Vet makes final house calls for pets

Nov. 28, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Dr. Georgina Kelly has been doing in-home pet euthanasia for three years. She has four dogs of her own in Anaheim Hills. Kelly is a board certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine. She is the founder and president of In Home Final Pet Care, a service dedicated to providing in home euthanasia of dogs and cats. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dr. Georgina Kelly uses several drugs to relax the animal and eventually euthanize it. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Robyn Stiffler comforts her dog Nellie, a 19-year-old Schipperke, at her Santa Ana home before the dog was euthanized. Dr. Georgina Kelly has euthanized more than 1,000 pets over the last three years. The service costs more than twice what vets charge to euthanize pets at their office. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Dr. Georgina Kelly greets Robyn Stiffler at her Santa Ana home. Stiffler was having her dog Nellie, a 19-year-old Schipperke, euthanized. Kelly has been doing in-home pet euthanasia for three years through her company In Home Final Pet Care. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dr. Georgina Kelly and pet owner Robyn Stiffler look at photos of her dog, Nellie, after Nellie was euthanized at Stiffler's Santa Ana home. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Robyn Stiffler wipes a tear as her dog Nellie, a 19-year-old Schipperke, is euthanized. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Robyn Stiffler spends a few moments with her dog Nellie, a 19-year-old Schipperke, at her Santa Ana home as Dr. Georgina Kelly prepares to euthanize the dog. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dr. Georgina Kelly provides support as Robyn Stiffler says goodbye to her dog Nellie, a 19-year-old Schipperke, after Nellie was euthanized. Kelly will see any animal but most of her business involves dogs and cats. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Dr. Georgina Kelly has been doing in-home pet euthanasia for three years. She has four dogs of her own in Anaheim Hills. Kelly is a board certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine. She is the founder and president of In Home Final Pet Care, a service dedicated to providing in home euthanasia of dogs and cats. PAUL BERSEBACH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The veterinarian is prepping meds from the living-room floor of a condominium in Santa Ana.

Nellie – a Schipperke, a small-breed dog from Belgium – lies on the couch, covered by a favorite blanket. At 19, in human years, the dog's breathing is labored. One of her front legs is draped over a toy, a brown plush monkey she swiped years ago from her owner's niece.

She never let go of it.

This is the day for owner Robyn Stiffler to let go of Nellie.

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Stiffler, 55, fell in love with the bushy-haired pup while visiting a pet store to buy a turtle for her son.

"This is really rough," she says. "But I know it's the right thing to do."

Kelly has been in this position more than a thousand times, performing a service that is gaining in popularity among pet owners forced into the agonizing situation of saying goodbye to a loved one: in-home euthanasia.

The service is an alternative to having a pet put to sleep at a veterinarian's office, an experience many pet owners view as impersonal and traumatic for their beloved animal – and for them.

She uses an electric razor to shave a rear leg to find a vein. Then she injects Nellie with a sedative that eases the dog into a stupor. A dose of the anesthetic propofol will follow and, after that, the final step – an overdose of pentobarbital.

But before she does that, Kelly turns and whispers to Stiffler.

"You ready?"

As Stiffler pets Nellie's head, her eyes redden. Still, she manages a response.

"Yes."

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Over the past three years, Kelly, 49, of Anaheim Hills has built her business, In Home Final Pet Care, into one of the largest services of its kind in Orange County. She's one of a few who provide the service locally. Other veterinarians refer customers Kelly's way.

"The reason I use her is because of her compassion for her clients as well as for the pets," says Dr. Mike Kavanagh, owner of Saddleback Animal Hospital in Tustin.

Kavanagh says views about pets are rapidly evolving, and most people now regard dogs and cats as something closer to family members than backyard animals. And when they can manage their pet's death, they want the animals to die in emotional and physical comfort.

Kelly – a small-animal veterinary internist in practice since 1986 and the mother of 15-year-old singer Rebecca Black of "Friday" fame – works three days a week at an animal hospital in Los Angeles. But she says In Home Final Pet Care is her passion.

She charges $445 to put a pet to sleep at home, more than twice what vets charge for in-office services. For $785, she will have the pet cremated and will return the ashes in an urn.

Dr. Kathleen Cooney, a Colorado veterinarian who works as a consultant to practitioners getting into the home-euthanasia business, predicts that within a decade the practice will be the norm, not the exception.

"End-of-life time for a pet has become a family experience," Cooney said.

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Kelly is running 27 minutes late to an appointment in Laguna Beach.

"People rarely get upset when I'm late," she says.

She's been called to put down Lily, a 9-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel – the same breed that starred in the animated film "Lady and the Tramp." Lily suffers from chronic arthritic pain in her neck and spine.

Clang clang.

At the sound of the metal handle rapping against the front door, Lily and her half-brother, Buddy, who has spent virtually every day of his life by Lily's side, bound up to greet the visitors.

Lily vigorously wags her tail.

Kelly hands her a bacon treat.

Owner Margaret McGrath has been through this before – twice, she's had to have a dog put down. This will be the first time a pet has been euthanized in her home.

It won't be easy. It never is.

McGrath's cottage overlooks the ocean and, as Kelly preps, a gentle breeze blows through an open window.

Last night was a scare. Lily fell over and lay motionless for about an hour. For several minutes, McGrath says, the dog appeared to stop breathing.

Tuesday morning, McGrath took a deep breath and picked up the phone. She had come to believe that Lily's quality of life had deteriorated enough. She had planned to call Kelly twice before, dating back a month or so, but canceled both appointments.

Wearing navy blue scrubs, Kelly again sat on the living-room floor and prepared her syringes.

"Her brain is still good," McGrath said of Lily. "She's the smartest dog I've ever had."

Lily used a step stool to get on the couch.

Kelly shaved some of the soft white fur from a rear leg, found a vein and began to put her to sleep.

Buddy, curious, climbed on the couch near Lily. Kelly believes it's important for other pets to be present so they will sense death and not search for their departed companion after the dead pet is taken away.

"Have a good night's sleep," Kelly told Lily.

Soon, the dog's snoring stopped.

Kelly checked for a heartbeat.

"She's gone."

"Is she?" McGrath asked as she stroked Lily's face and ears.

Lily died with the bacon treat still in her mouth.

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After putting Nellie to sleep, Kelly hugs Stiffler.

"She's had a wonderful life," Stiffler tells Kelly. "I'm so glad I found you."

Kelly's assistant will follow up the next day to see how Stiffler is doing. In some cases, Kelly will refer clients to bereavement specialists.

"I didn't want to keep her alive for my own selfish reasons," Stiffler explains. "We human beings sometimes get in the way.

"Sometimes, we humans have the hardest time letting go."

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A few hours after Kelly has left to drive Lily away to be cremated, McGrath prepares to take Buddy to the beach.

Owner and dog walk out the front door. It's late afternoon and the sun and now calm air have turned the sea into glass.

Soon, human and dog return to their cozy cottage, their living room filled with photos and mementos that speak of their deep bond.

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